Who Saw Her Die? 2002 Horror Movie Review

NO SPOILERS.

Finally saw this one for the first time the other night. Not a bad movie but not a great one. Lots of distractions. For one, poor George Lazenby looks ill. Neither he nor Anita Strindberg (or the script) give us sympathetic characters. Shouldn’t we be encouraged to sympathize, considering what’s happened to them? (if the intent is to judge them harshly, that doesn’t come across clearly) But, well, the big distraction is the music. I fall squarely into the “it’s way too loud” camp regarding this score. Especially the one bit that seems to be used ad nauseum. But, then, I feel Argento’s SUSPIRIA would’ve benefitted from certain otherwise-effective themes being used one or two times less throughout. Anyway, I found myself bored by a third of the way into this. Maybe I’m expecting too much of a giallo, but, if you’re not going to properly set up the identity of the killer during the story, why should I care about the final revelation? (especially when it rips from Hitchcock’s PSYCHO to the point of being embarassing). If it’s mainly a mystery, make me care. If it’s about gory murders, go about it with more style. Still, there are a few good jolts and some reasonably suspenseful sequences. The dubbing isn’t bad, though the girl Roberta at times sounds like she’s twenty. I also really enjoyed the way the revelation at the docks/markets played out. Interesting montage with some effective, less-than-obvious symbolism. Otherwise? Ho-hum. And the interview with the director doesn’t clarify the film or generate any interest for me. (his candor about his interest in pedophilia is squirm-inducing) I’d recommend SHORT NIGHT OF GLASS DOLLS over this. The pieces fall together far more effectively in that film.